Guidesonde: Targeting Meteorological Dropsonde with Optical and In-Situ Sensors

There exists a programmatic need across several government agencies for both UAV and manned aircraft to be able to deploy in-situ observation sensors within areas of scientific interest. These missions include sampling ice at high resolution over the arctic, investigating plumes near active volcanos, measuring ionizing radiation within denied HAZMAT or nuclear emergency areas, and sampling the thermal and momentum fluxes within eyewall of an active hurricane. This latter capability is crucial for the success of future UAS missions such as NASA's Hurricane Severe Storm Sentinel (HS-3). Guidesonde will enable the Global Hawk to loiter at a safe stand off distance, well away from highly turbulent storm areas.